Yamaha YZF-R3 vs KTM RC 390

Yamaha has finally launched the much-awaited YZF-R3 in India at Rs. 3.25 lacs (ex-showroom, Delhi). Features and price of the bike are slightly different than we had expected. The price of the R3 has been set almost 1.5x to the one of its closest rivals- KTM RC 390, which is tagged around Rs. 2.12 lacs (ex-showroom, Delhi). So, is R3 has something special to fulfil that much extra cost? Let’s get into detailing and find out the answer.

Also Read: Yamaha YZF-R3 launched in India at Rs. 3.25 lacs

Appearance: 

Styling is one of the most important feature of a premium motorcycle in India, especially in the entry-level performance segment. Both the Yamaha YZF-R3 and the KTM RC 390 are well designed supersport style full-faired motorcycles.

Inspired from the R-DNA, Yamaha R3 has been tailored using the design lines of the other R series motorcycles like the R1. It's well designed front fairing sports split styled headlights with a transparent wind visor. It has a very sporty stance with a masculine fuel tank and an up-raised tail, which looks more flamboyant with its well-crafted body panels and a short side-slung type muffler. The bike is available in two shades- Racing Blue and Midnight Black.

The aggressive styling of the KTM RC 390 is based on the Austrian auto maker’s high-end track machine- RC8R. It has a sharp, edgy and aerodynamic body with a unique appearance than the other motorcycles in the respective segment. The RC 390 is also very compact and light compared to its rivals, which makes it more nimble and handy. The bike has a semi-naked trellis frame, painted in orange and it comes in just one paint scheme as shown in the picture.

Also Read: Yamaha YZF-R3 vs Kawasaki Ninja 300

Engine and Transmission:

Both the Yamaha R3 and the KTM RC 390 sports short stroke motors, which are liquid-cooled. However, RC has a single-cylinder mill, while R3 has a parallel twin-cylinder type one.

Powering the R3 is a 321cc, parallel-twin, DOHC engine, which churns out 41.4bhp of maximum power at 10,750rpm and delivers a peak torque of 29.6Nm at 9,000rpm. The motor comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox using a wet multi-plate type clutch arrangement.

KTM RC 390 has a 373.2cc, single-cylinder mill, making up to 43bhp of maximum power at 9,000rpm and a peak torque up to 35Nm at 7,000rpm. It also uses a six-speed transmission, however, its new model gets an advanced slipper clutch system for smooth down-shifts at high speed.

If we talk about the power to weight ratio, the orange machine puts out 1.6bhp more and it is 3 kg lighter as well compared to the R3. So, RC 390 has a better power to weight ratio among the two, however, their performances are almost similar.

Chassis and Equipment:

Where the KTM RC 390 is a fully track-focused machine, Yamaha R3 has been made for a bit lesser aggressive riding style. So, both of the motorcycles use slightly different equipment.

Bolted on a diamond type frame, Yamaha R3 comes with a KYB suspension set-up, which includes 41mm telescopic front forks and seven-step pre-load adjustable rear mono-shock. It has lightweight 17” alloy with 110/70 section front and 140/70 section rear MRF tyre. The high braking system combines 298mm front and 220mm rear disc brakes with Akebono calipers. However, one of the most important safety features- ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) is missing in the Indian spec model.

Designed for a real supersport experience, KTM RC 390 has been built on a tubular space frame. The bike comes with WP suspension set-up, having 43mm inverted telescopic forks at the front and an adjustable mono-shock at the rear. It also gets 17” alloys, however, the RC comes with more sticky Metzeler rubber (110/70 front and 150/60 rear). Its braking system has 300mm front and 230mm rear brake disc, which are also slightly bigger those of the R3. The discs are grabbed by Bybre calipers and they are also assisted by Bosch 9MB two-channel ABS.

Verdict:

We were hoping that like the global model of the Yamaha R3, India will also get the ABS as a standard feature with the bike. However, the company even didn’t introduce it as an option. The price of the R3 is also slightly higher than our expectations and it is almost Rs. 1.1 lac expensive than KTM RC 390. If we talk about the pros of the R3 over RC, it just has a parallel-twin motor and it is more comfortable for daily use.

Coming to the pros of RC 390, it is 33 percent cheaper than R3, while performs almost equivalent. It has inverted front forks, ABS as standard, slipper clutch, much better tyres, projector headlamps, which makes it more special. So, there is no reason to choose R3 over the RC, except you are looking for a comfortable daily ride in the respective segment.

Get More Details On Yamaha YZF R3

Get More Details on KTM RC 390